Tridens flavus (L.) Hitchc., purpletop 
DESCRIPTION 
Warm-season, perennial bunch grass. 
Height: 3 to 5 feet. 
Leaf blade: Flat; often 1/2 inch wide; 10 to 28 inches long; 
lax ; smooth ; glossy green. 
Leaf sheath: Flattened near base ; keeled ; overlapping. 
Ligule : Ring of short hair. 
Seedhead: Open panicle 8 to 14 inches long, spreading, pyr- 
amid shaped, usually purple, sometimes nearly black; 
branchlets droop and are covered with an oily or greaselike 
substance. Purpletop is sometimes called greasegrass. 
GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS 
Growth starts in early spring and continues until July. Pro- 
duces seedheads during August and September ; seed mature dur- 
ing October. Long, lax blades become pronounced under medium 
and dense shade. Generally, the individual bunches of this grass 
are 6 to 8 inches in diameter at ground level. 
DISTRIBUTION 
All the states east of 30-inch rainfall belt. 
SITE ADAPTATION 
Adapted to both bottom lands and uplands. In Florida, grows 
primarily on hummocky sites. 
USE AND MANAGEMENT 
Purpletop is grazed by all livestock. The seed are eaten by 
birds. 
Because this grass is not palatable until after frost, proper 
grazing is the only management practice required to maintain it 
in a vigorous condition. 
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